The workshop was presented by the University of Oregon’s School of Architecture and Allied Arts, in partnership with the Historic Preservation League of Oregon. Around 30 rural leaders from across the region came together for three days of presentations and small group engagements around a hypothetical Pacific Northwest small town. The first two days focused on design process lectures and workshops led by the program’s local partners, with an emphasis on graphic communications and map design. A lecture on natural and cultural resources was paired with an educational walking tour of the estuary—a highlight, according to program leaders. The workshop culminated in the Your Town workshop, which focused on design problems related to managing natural and cultural resources in the face of rapid growth in industry, population, and tourism.

Learn more from the Charleston Workshop Notebook.